Reamer for rotary well drills



Aug. 30 1927 1,640,341

| ALDRIN I REAMER FOR ROTARY WELL DRILLS Filed Feb. 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR. L canard A/drm A TTORNE Y.

g 7 L. ALDRIN REAMER FOR ROTARY WELL DRILLS Filed Fe 9, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. o n ara A/dr/r) A TTORNE Y.

Patented Aug. 3O, 1927. I

I nnonann ALDRIN, or pn nvnngconoannog 7 V c .i

. REAMER non ROTARY wELn narrirls.

Application 'filed February 9, 1923. Serial No. 618,032.

My invention relates to boring tools of the type used in drilling wells and its primary object residesin providing a reaming tool for enlarging and truing holes produced by the action of a rotary drill bit, in which simplicity of construction is combined with efficiency and practicability in use.

Further objects of the invention are to pro vide an expanding reamer adapted for use in direct connection with a rotary drill bit and to provide as a constituent part of the tool, rotary cutters of novel form and design. Another object is to provide a simple and convenient method of securing the rotary cutters on the parts of the tool on which they are mounted, andstill another objectof the invention resides in the provision of a reamer of the above described character having means to facilitate its withdrawal from the hole in which it has been lowered, in case of cave-ins or other obstructions.

With the above objects in View my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts'illustrated in the accompanying drawings inthe several views of which like parts are similarly designated and in which Figure 1 represents a partially sectional elevation of my improved reamer in association. with,a bit of a-rotary well drill;

, Figure 2, an enlarged composite view of Y the reamer in its operative relation to a bore produced by the bit to which it is attached,

the portion of the view at the left side ofan axial line being an elevation, and that at the other side of said line being a longitudinal section of the tool.'

Figure 3, a transverse section taken on the line 3-3, Figure 2;

Figure 4, a simi 44, Figure 2; I

Figure 5, a sectional View of the lower portion of one of the pivoted arms of thereamer, showing the cutter in elevation; and

Figure 6, a section taken on the line 6-6,'

Figure 5.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the reference character A designates the reamer, B the drill bit with which it is connected, and O the hollow stem of the tool which is in operatlve connection with mechalar' section along the line nism for its rotation at the surface of the ground.

The drill bit which is connected at the lower end of the reamer in axial alinement therewith, consists of a tapering body having rotary cutters arranged at its lower end and upon its circumferential surface, its construction being more fully described in Pat out No. 1,601,937 issued November 23. 1926.

The three alined elements A, B and C "an"; the tool aresepara'bly connected by screwjoints and the elements A andB have'axial bores 25 and 26 in communication with the tubular stem C for the introduction of a pressure fluid, which forces the cuttings produced in the operation of the tool, to the mouth of the bore. In order to facilitate the upward passage of the cuttings, the reamera-nd the bit are provided with alined channels preferably formed at quadrant points oftheir circumference. I In the operation ofthe tool assembled as hereinbefore described, thereamer enlarges the hole 1) produced by the rotary bit, to the outside diameter of the well casing which in Figure 2 of the drawings has been designated by the letter E, but, while for reasons of simplicity and economy of operation, the

above stated arrangement is preferred, ,it-

holder 5 bored and channeled as hereinbefore described, and having at its upper and lower ends respectively, a screw-threaded socket 6 and a screw-threaded tenon 7 for its attachment to the stern and the drill bit.

The bodyhas at quadrant points intermediate of its channels 8, longitudinal recesses '9. to admit the cutting members which in the operation of the tool engage the surface of the bore as illustrated in Figure 2;

The cutting members each consist of an arm 10 pivoted at its upper end by means of a bolt 12 tomove about a horizontal axis.

The arm carries at its lower end, a rotary cutter 17 which in the operation acts upon the wall of the excavation by the-rotary movement of the tool, and it. has in a slot 1 f formed ata point nearer its pivotal axis, a roller 15 which when the tool is withdrawn from the bore engages the inner surface of the well-casing.

A leaf-spring 16 fastened at its upper end within the recess, engages the lower portion serrated to provide the slanting cutting edges l7 which in the operation of the tool engage with the work as shown in Figure 2,

' when by the action of the spring upon the respective arm the cutter is projected from the surface of the holder.

The shank 17 of the cutter extends into a circular recess of the arm and is surrounded by two bushings 18 of anti-friction material, which being snugly fitted in the recess, are spaced apart to admit the pins 13 to the peripheral groove of the shank. The bushings which conjointly provide a bearing surface for the rotary cutters, reduce friction and are readily renewed in case of wear or breakage. v j

The pins 13 which secure the rotary cutters on the respective arms, are fitted in parallel bores which ext-end transversely to the axis of rotation of the cutter and'they are held in place by screw-threaded heads 13 which engage with correspondingly tapped enlargements at an end of the bores. Y

The cutters are mounted on the arms so that in.their operative positionthey extend axially at an angle to the axis of the holder to engage at their beveled cutting faces with The cuttings upon entering the peripheral channels 8 of the holder are forced upwardly to the mouth of the excavation'by a pressure fluid introduced into the tubular stem from which the cutting element is suspended. i

When, after the operation is completed, the tool is withdrawn from the excavation, the rollers 15 by engagement with the inner surface of the casing E, retract the arms and the cutters at the lower ends thereof into the-recesses of the holder and thus permit of moving the tool upwardly with the minimum of frictional resistance.

The upper portion ofthe body or holder of the reamer above its recesses, is reduced in diameterin two steps, and mounted at quadrant points of the reduced surfaces, are cutters 19 and 20 ofthe same fornna's those at the lower ends of the pivoted arms. The v cutters 19 and 20"are, like the others, rotatably secured by pins 23 extending in pe ripheral' grooves of their shanks and antifriction bushings 24 are fitted in recesses into which the shanks extend, as before.

The cutters at the upper portion of the reamer are disposed within the cross-sectional area of the lower or body portion of the same so as to clear the inner surface of the well casing and their function in the operation of the tool is tofacilitate its withdrawal from the excavation in the event of earth or rock entering the bore as by a cave-in, by cutting through'the obstructive matter while the rotating tool is drawn upwardly by the operating mechanism with which its stem connects.

It ,will be observed that when the reamer is operating as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the rollers and the cutters on the =pivoted arms are the only parts projecting beyond the cylindrical peripheral surface of its body and that when it is withdrawn from the excavation the cutters are completely retracted within the respective recesses.

Having thus described my improved reamer in the best form at present known to me, I desire it understood that minor changes in the construction and arrangement of its parts maybe resorted to so as to adapt it for use in connection with different drilling tools and under varying con:

ditions, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

l/Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Let-.

ters Patent is: I

1. A reamer for well drills comprising a body provided with a peripheral recess, a

pivoted arm in the recess of the body, a cutter mounted upon the outer .face of the arm at an end thereof, to rotate about an. axis at',

an angle to said face, and a spring acting upon the arm to yieldingly project the cutter from the body. l

2. A reamer for well drills comprising a body provided with a peripheral recess, a

pivoted armin the recess of the body, an I inwardly beveled circular cutter mounted upon the outer face of the arm at an end thereof, to rotate about an axis at an angle to said face, and a spring acting upon the arm to yieldingly project. the cutter from the body.

3. A reamer body provided with a perlpheral recess, a

for well drills comprising a I pivoted arm in the recess of the body, and body having means for attachment to a drill an inwardly beveled circular cutter mounted stem and having steps successively decreasupon the. outer face of the arm at an end ing in diameter as they approachsaid means, 10 thereof, to rotate about an axis slanting and rotary cutters mounted on the steps. 5 from the horizontal when the arm is in its In testimony whereof I have aifixed my normal operative position. signature.

4.. A reamer for well drills comprising a I LEONARD ALDRIN. 

